Kitsap Pumas to join indoor soccer league later this year

Kitsap announced today it will join the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro), with a 12-game schedule starting Nov. 13 that goes into next year. Read into the release below for some of the logistical details if you like. Open tryouts for the team are on Oct. 10.

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Pumas Launch Professional Indoor Soccer Team

Bremerton, Wash. – The Kitsap Soccer Club (Pumas) today announced that it will place a franchise into the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro) for the upcoming fall/winter professional indoor soccer league.

The Pumas, only two years old as of last month, have, to date, plied their trade in the United Soccer League. While keeping their outdoor operations intact, the Pumas will now spend winters playing the indoor game at the Olympic Soccer and Sports Center in Bremerton, Wash.

Kitsap will play in the newly launched Pro Frontier Division, which will consist of expansion teams and teams lacking natural geographic rivals. The Pro Frontier Division will join the Eastern and Western divisions in what will be a three-division alignment for the PASL-Pro’s third season.

Pro Frontier teams will play a 12-game schedule, while the other divisions will play a full 16 matches. Pro Frontier teams will be evaluated by the league throughout the season with the expectation of becoming a fully vested league member for the 2011/12 season.

“The PASL is excited to add the Kitsap Pumas to its Pro Frontier Division,” said PASL-Pro Commissioner Kevin Milliken. “They are a proven organization outdoors, and will bring that success to the indoor game. This gives our league three professional teams in the Northwest with Tacoma and Wenatchee, which will pave the way for future expansion in the Northwestern US, and in Western Canada for the CMISL.”

Kitsap’s first-ever indoor match will be November 13 against defending league champion Tacoma. The Pumas play their first-ever home indoor game the following week on November 20 against the Wenatchee Fire. The club is also planning on scheduling at least one and possibly two pre-season exhibition matches.

In-season exhibitions against some of the biggest names in North American professional indoor soccer are also in the works.

“The PASL’s Premier League has had a long and successful history in the Northwest,” continued Miliken. “The 1999 winter finals, and 2006 summer finals were held in Tacoma and Wenatchee was the first pro division team in 2008.”

“I’m really looking forward to bringing even more high level soccer to the area. With the Puma’s joining the PASL, professional soccer in Kitsap will become a year round event,” said OSSC director/owner Dennis Michael.

Ticket prices for individual matches, are $5 for kids 4-15; $7 for adults. Children under four are always admitted free.

— Flex Pak (Purchase four tickets, which can be used in any configuration for any match) – Adults – $25; Kids – $15

On-going specials include:

— “Every Night is Military Appreciation Night!,” which enables all active, retired and civilian military to purchase tickets at 50% off.

— Also, teams registering for upcoming OSSC leagues by October 20, 2010 will also receive 5 tickets per team for Opening Night (enquire with Trish at OSSC for further details.)

“The fan base has been clamoring for anything Pumas since the USL season ended in August, so it made sense to explore this,” said Ben Pecora, the club’s executive director. “This is another chance to grow the sport and the club in our part of the world. What’s really great is that with the kids’ rec and select seasons now fully underway – and with their indoor seasons looming – we’ll be able to once again show off a very high level of play.”

Said Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent, who assisted in securing the current operating agreement with OSSC: ” I am very excited that the Kitsap Pumas will continue through the fall and winter at our Pendergast Complex. This is something all citizens in Kitsap can get behind. We have a real opportunity to double the size of the fan base in support of this great team in our great city.”

Open tryouts will be held Sunday, October 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the OSSC in Bremerton. For more details, please go to the club’s website (www.kitsapsoccerclub.com). The tryout fee is $50 per player. All prospective players must complete a registration forms prior to tryouts.